Compressed product from bone.



UNITED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ROSS HUNTER,

. TO WILLIAM HINCKLE COMPRESSED PRODUCT FROM BONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,882, dated February7, 1905.

Application filed November 22, 1904- Sariel No,- 288,892-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH Ross HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Compressed Product from Bone, of whichthe fol lowing is a specification.

My invention consists of a new product from bone and process ofproducing the same.

In carrying out my invention I treat bone of any kind in anysuitable'manner to remove from it fattymaterial and then removetherefrom the mineral salts, particularly phosphate of calcium. Theremoval of fatty matter may be accomplished by the application of heat,and the mineral matter may then be removed by treatment with acid,preferably dilute hydrochloric acid. At any suitable period, eitherbefore or after. the removal of the fatty material, lime, and mineralmatter, I preferably remove the moisture, which removal may evidently beaccomplished also by the application of heat. I may omit the removal ofthe moisture and fatty material parse and produce the material in themanner hereinafter described, removing the moisture or fatty matter, oreither of them, if desired, as part of that operation. While Ipreferably remove all of these substances and my material is mostdesirable when so'formed, I obtain an advantage from shredding andrecombining the bone with or without the removal of any or all of thesesubstances.

Where reference is made to the removal of matter from bone in thespecification and claims, it is to be understood that substantialremoval of such matter is intended, as it is unnecessary in most casesthat the entire mineral, fatty, or fluid matter contained should beremoved. Such entire removal is diflicult commercially and in the caseof the,mineral matter risks the destruction of the fibrous residuum fromwhich my compressed product is preferably formed.

Reference is here made to my application, Serial No. 214,618, filed June28, 1904. for product from bone wherein is disclosed the subject-matterhereof and in which the material is claimed in this fibrous or dividedcondition alone, no claims being there included or intended to beincluded forthe material in the compressed form as recombined afterseparation. V

In carrying out my invention I preferably wash the bone thoroughly toremove flesh or other foreign matter therefrom and cut it up forconvenience in handling, and to render parts of the bone more readilyaccessible to the treating fluid I place the bone in a vessel andsubject it to a solution of acid, preferably hydrochloric (HCl) andwater. The per cent. of hydrochloric acid is preferablyrelatively small,being about twenty per 'cent.,

but varies slightly, according to the character of the bone, whetherfresh or dead, and the temperature at which the process is to be car--ried out. The extent of action of hydrochloric acid upon the mineralsalts relatively to. the action upon the fiber of the bone which I wishto retain depends upon the tempera-;

ture, and I have found that the most suitable temperature is in thevicinity of bloodheat. The fiber remaining from the hydrochloric-aeidtreatment, ordinarily termedossein, is preferably then washed thoroughlyand excess of acid'removed either by this means or by neutralizationwith an alkali,

such as Sal-soda. If-the residuum has at this time an objectionablecolor,itmay be bleached, as by the use of chlorid of lime, withoutinterfering with the result which I wish to obtain. The bone-fiber ispreferably kept wet until the process is completed, but may be moistenedsufiiciently for any of the opera. tions herein described if it becomestoo dry. The residuum, bleached, as above stated, if desired, is thenbeaten, preferably in a beating-engine. This breaks the fiber upsomewhat; but I preferably further divide it in a refining or J ordahengine to the fineness required for the purpose to which it is to beapplied. The fibers are pliable and soft and have somewhat raggedsurfaces caused by the projection of small spurs, filaments, splints,

der strong pressure may be formed into masses or sheets with or withoutthe use of articles and those requiring comparatively Y less capabilityof flexure than is required for the finer and more delicate fabrics orproducts, particularly where the latter require much flexibility.-Likewise more bulky articles may ordinarily be produced without the useof an agglutinant, whereas the 'agglutinant is more frequently necessaryin the production of the finer products.

My compressed material is a non-conductor of heat and of electricity andwill not take fire nor support combustion. It will not absorb moistureand may readily be compressed so as to be impervious thereto.

The compressed material is adapted to a large number of uses for whichthe characteristics above named fit it. Such suggested uses areconduits, pipes, or tubes for fluid transmission or delivery, electricconduits, either of the underground type for cable use or tubes forinterior wiring, as a substitute for leather and insulation purposes,either in block form or compressed or formed about the conductor to beinsulated. g It will be evident that various changes may be made bythose skilled in the art which may come Within the scope of myinvention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in everyinstance to the exact method and product.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-'.

1. As a new product of manufacture compressed shredded residuum frombone.

As a new product of manufacture compressed shredded bone lacking mineralmatter thereof.

3. As a new product of manufacture compressed shredded ossein.

4:. As a new product of manufacture recombined fibers of bone from whichmineral matter has been removed.

5. The process of producinga residuum from bone w ich consists intreating bone to remove mineral matter therefrom in finely dividing thesame and in recombining the fibers thereof.

6. The process of producing residuum from bone which consists inremoving the mineral matter therefrom, in finely dividing the prodnotand recombining the particles thereof by pressure.

JOSEPH ROSS HUNTER' Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. CANER l/VInDnRsEIM.

